League official wonders if visor rule will curb fights

Jun. 19, 2013
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The officials try to break up a fight between Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) and Chicago Blackhawks left wing Bryan Bickell (29) during the third period in Game 3 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden. / Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports

by Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports

by Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports

BOSTON - NHL general managers endorsed the Competition Committee's recommendation to make visors mandatory for incoming NHL players, a move that one league executive believes could eliminate fighting over time.

GMs like requiring all first-year players to wear visors, but they're working out details on what will happen when young tough guys want to fight. The current rule is that a player gets an extra two minutes for instigating a fight while wearing a face shield.

No one wants fighters to take off their helmets because of the potential of serious injury should they hit their head on the ice in a fall.

"You are probably going to get to the eventual answer it will reduce or get rid of fighting," said NHL director of hockey operations Colin Campbell. "Is that a bad thing or a good thing?"

If the Board of Governors passes the rule at its June 27 meeting, any player with 25 or fewer NHL games would be required to wear a visor next season.

"I see it as we were taking steps to making the game safer," said Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero. "I don't have a crystal ball for five or 10 years down the road."

Visors are worn in the American Hockey League and Canadian Hockey League, and players still fight in those leagues. One thought is fighters will swing away - visors or not.

"It's not like hitting a car windshield," said Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish. "There will be fighting."

The GMs also endorsed trying hybrid icing in the preseason, with the idea that it will be used in the regular season if the players like it. Under the rule, icing is called if the defenseman beats the forward to the faceoff dot, instead of the goal line.

"Essentially, it is meant to eliminate guys going full speed into the end boards," said NHL Players' Association official Mathieu Schneider.

He said there was some discussion on diving and embellishment.

"We are trying to do something," Schneider said, "whether it's a list in the dressing room or educating the guys more that we know this is going on and we aren't happy with it."